Syrian Coalition Calls for Urgent International Action to Lift Siege on Darayya

Member of the political committee Adnan Rahmoun called on the United Nations and the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) to act urgently in order to save the lives of Syrian civilians in besieged Darayya, lift the sieges across Syria, and deliver relief aid to these areas urgently.

Rahmoun said that the Assad regime impedes the delivery of humanitarian aid to a number of areas full of civilians and internally displaced people, mostly children and women.

Rahmoun called for working seriously to complete confidence building measures to ensure success of the Geneva negotiations so that they result in a fair political solution that guarantees the rights of all Syrians by forming a transitional governing body. This body, he added, would be tasked with ending tyranny and terror, establish the rule of law, and restore freedoms and peace.

Activists in Darayya called for lifting the siege the Assad regime has imposed on the district for over three years and for the delivery of humanitarian aid. Women and children earlier today gathered at the besieged district, forming with their bodies an SOS sign and also held placards calling for lifting siege on Daraayya.

Jan Egeland, Special Advisor to the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, today said: "We still have not reached six important besieged areas, including Daraya and Douma.”

Egeland added that routine procedures slow down the delivery of aid to the besieged areas, noting that the United Nations is going to airdrop relief aid to besieged areas in Syria.

Since late 2012, residents of Darayya have been suffering as a result of the absence of basic services and severe shortages of food and medicine. The rebel-held parts of the district have since then been subject to constant bombardment by barrel bombs and rockets. Despite the lull in fighting and bombardment as a result of the “cessation of hostilities” agreement signed on February 27, the Assad regime continues to block the entry of food aid and medical supplies to people trapped inside. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Agencies)